COVID-19 and Breakfast

Effective Tuesday March 17, 2020 breakfast will move to a carry out model for the duration of the COVID-19 crisis. This decision was not made lightly, but after much conversation we decided this was in the best interest of both our volunteers and guests. We will still be serving a hot meal including oatmeal, fruit, hard boiled eggs, juice, cereal bars, and coffee. All of these items will be packaged by a small team of volunteers each morning for distribution to anyone in need. We will also make our restroom and hand washing facilities available to guests during this time.

In addition to this change we are strongly recommending that any volunteers in high risk categories do not volunteer at breakfast at this time. We will miss you, but we want you to stay healthy. Volunteers who have traveled in the previous fourteen days or show any signs of illness should also stay home.

Thank you for your understanding.

2020 Benefit Concert Features Mavis Staples February 15

2020 Benefit Concert Features Mavis Staples February 15

On Feb. 15, Grammy winner, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame artist, chart-topping gospel, soul and R&B star and civil rights icon Mavis Staples is traveling to Ann Arbor to help raise money for The Breakfast at St. Andrew’s. The show is made possible with the generous support of General Motors, The Bank of Ann Arbor, Zingerman’s Community of Businesses, Les Stanford Chevrolet-Cadillac, Karen Moeller Design, Old National Bank, Ann Arbor State Bank/Level One and Weber’s Inn.

Tickets Still Available!

Purchase your tickets for this Feburary 15 Michigan Theater event through Ticketmaster.

36 Years of Breakfast

In August The Breakfast at St. Andrew’s celebrated 36 years of serving a free meal to anyone in need every single day. 36 years is quite a feat, our volunteers have worked in blizzards, ice, extreme heat, power outages, and so much more. This accomplishment is not possible without the dedication of every single person who has ever volunteered for or donated to this program.

This year we celebrated simply by providing mini cupcakes and birthday napkins to our guests at breakfast. Our volunteers carried on as they do any other day. In a way this simple dedication and the act of showing up is the thing that most impresses me about this program. It is made possible by ordinary people who just show up for one another.

Thank you all for your efforts this year and every year. May we continue to open our doors until the day that no one is in need.

The Holiday Season

As we have now entered the holiday season I would like to share a poem that was left at breakfast several years ago by a guest. It is simply a reminder of why we do what we do. Enjoy.

Each day without fail you have provided a table
Each day without fail through rainstorm, blizzard, heat, cold

Each day without fail food and fellowship
An expression of the love of God
Ask and you shall receive
Each day without fail

Because of circumstance some of us sometimes have our faith in others challenged.

With each cup of coffee you awaken something inside
With each bowl of oatmeal you feed the hunger for compassion within
The apples and oranges, fruits of your kindness for all to share

Each day without fail
St. Andrew’s is morning sanctuary from criticism and despair,
an even greater blessing
A good way to begin each day without fail
Thank you, you remind me of something Jesus said:
“What you do unto the Least of mine, you do unto me.”

Ten Thousand Villages

The Breakfast Program has once again partnered with Ten Thousand Villages for a holiday shopping fundraiser.  Please consider doing some holiday shopping at Ten Thousand Villages between November 27th and December 8th.  If you mention The Breakfast Program we will receive 15% of your purchase.  This is a great way to support a local business and The Breakfast Program at the same time!  Ten Thousand Villages is located at 303 S. Main Street in Ann Arbor.

The Breakfast Turns 35

At the end of September we had an opportunity to gather and celebrate 35 years of serving breakfast every single morning.  Our volunteers, donors, and community supporters were able to spend time socializing and enjoying lunch.  In honor of the 35th anniversary we dedicated a volunteer memorial plaque in the parish hall, honoring those volunteers who have passed away.  I would like to extend a special thanks to Phil MacBride, Shauna Revello Wilson, Mary Edwards, and Stephanie Morgan for all of their hard work on this event.